Utility clamp and holder



B. W. GUYSI ET AL UTILITY CLAMP AND HOLDER June 5, 1956 Filed June 24,1952 IN VEN TORJ 5uRr0/v M/ 6406/ BYEJ/VFORD mxso/v I may) ATTOR/Vf/SUnited States Patent UTILITY CLAMP AND HOLDER Burton W. Guysi, SanFrancisco, and Sanford Wixson, Oakland, Calif.

Application June 24, 1952, Serial No. 295,196

8 Claims. (Cl. 248--22'6) This invention relates to a utility clamp andholder, and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple,economically made clamp that is readily and quickly adapted to bereleasably secured to the top of a card table or similar support at itsedge, and which clamp includes means for releasably securing to the topof a card table or similar support at its edge, and which clamp includesmeans for releasably securing a holder for an ash tray or other suitableload, to said clamp.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a utility clamp thatis adapted to be releasably clamped to table tops of different verticalthicknesses, and which clamp includes a single finger actua'table screwthat is adapted to both secure the clamp to the table top and to securea holder thereto, and which screw is readily accessible from above formanual turning, yet is positioned below the plane of the upper surfaceof the clamp so as to be out of the way.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a pair ofclamping jaws that are adapted to grip a table top, at its edge,therebetw'een, with a screw connecting the jaws for movement of thelower jaw upwardly toward the upper jaw when the latter is against theupper surface of the table for clamping said top between said jaws, andwhich upper jaw has an extension rigid therewith supporting a holder forswinging from a position locked to an unlocked position with said screwarranged 'to hold the holder in locked position as long as the jaws areclamped to the table.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in thedrawings. Y

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a top plan view of the clamp and holder the latter beingsuitable for holding an ash tray, but the ash tray being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l, the ashtray being also shown in cross-section, and the lower clamping jaw onthe clamping device being indicated in dot-dash lines in an alternativeposition.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the clamp and a portion of the holder.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a holder adapted to support a post instead ofan ash tray.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In detail, the clamp comprises an upper jaw 1 and a lower jaw 2, havingtheir clamping surfaces in opposedly facing relationship.

The upper jaw 1 has an end portion 3 integrally connected with one endof jaw 1 by a vertical offset section 4, so that said end portions 3 isin a horizontal plane below said jaw 1.

The jaw 2 also has an end portion, designated 5, and which portion 5 isbelow end portion 3, and is oifset downwardly relative to jaw 2 by asection 6 that integrally connects the jaw 2 with the portion 5.

A vertically downwardly extending extension 8 is integr'al with endportion 3, connecting with the latter along an edge of portion 3 that isremote from the jaw 1. Thus 2,749,073 Patented June 5, 1956 iceextension 8 extends downwardly past end portion 5 on jaw 2, and at itslower end it is formed with a projection 9 that projects below endportions 3, 5.

Integral with the extension 8 and at the side thereof opposite jaws 1, 2are a pair of vertically extending, horizontally spaced ribs 10.

Disposed between ribs 10 and alongside the extension 8 is a holderelement 12. This element 12 has a laterally projecting part 13 integraltherewith at its lower end, and which projection extends below theprojection 9.

The upper ends of the ribs 10 are formed with upwardly opening,horizontally aligned recesses 14 in which are received the projectingends of a pin 15 that extends through the upper end of element 12 of theholder.

The upper end of said holder has a lateral projection 16 that is shownin Figs. 1, 2, 3 as a ring or annular member adapted to support an ashtray 17, or other load therein. In Fig. 2, said tray is seen to have ascreen 18 therein spaced above the bottom of the tray and below theupper rim of the latter for holding a cigarette 19 or the like thereinwith the burning end of the cigarette on the screen so it will stay lit.As the cigarette burns down it will descend into the tray and will notfall outwardly onto the floor.

The end portions 3, 5 and the projection 9 and part 13 are formed withaligned openings for passing a vertical screw 20 therethrough. However,the openings in the upper end portion 3, projection 9 and part 13 areunthreaded. The opening in the end portion of the lower jaw is threadedand its threads are in threaded engagement with the threads on thescrew.

The upper end of screw '20 above the upper end portion 3 is formed witha knurled head .21 for easy grasping by the fingers of the hand forrotating the screw, and due to offset 4, said head is below the level ofthe upper surface of the jaw 1 so that it will not catch on the sleeveof a garment or other objects that move over the clamp.

In operation, the screw 20 is rotated until jaw 2 is moved downwardly asufiicient distance to enable the marginal portion of the table top toslip between said jaws, and then it is tightened to secure the clamp andthe holder to the top.

In order to remove the holder, it is only necessary to turn screw 20 asufficient distance to enable the screw to be pulled upwardly until itslower end 22 is out of the opening 23, after which the part 13 can bereadily swung from below the projection 9 about the axis of pin 15, andthe holder including whatever it carries, such as tray 17, can beremoved.

It is pertinent to note that vertical, horizontally spaced guide members24 are below jaw 1 and integral therewith, and that the end portion 5 ofjaw 2 slides vertically between said guide members.

The otfset 6 of jaw 2 enables the lower jaw to be reversed, as indicatedin dot dash line position 25 (Fig. 2.), thus enabling the clamp to beused on an extremely thick table top. In its full line position, as seenin Fig. 2, the clamp will be adapated to grip a thin top. Thus the clampmay be used in places where an ordinary clamp would 'be inoperative.

As seen in Figs. 4, 5, the holder can be changed to carry a post 26,which may in turn carry a lamp or other load. The holder itself isidentical with that of Figs. 1 to 3, except that instead of a large ring16, it may have a small annular projection 27 through which the post 26extends, and a lateral projection 28 at lower end of the holder may beapertured for the lower end of said post.

The numbers used in Figs. 4, 5 are identical with those used for theholder of Figs. 1 to 3 where the same elements are shown.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the holder may be modifiedtocarry dilierent loads.

We claim:

1. A utility clamp comprising; a pair of jaws having clamping portionsprovided with opposed clamping surfaces and end portions at one of thecorresponding ends of said clamping portions integral with the latterand in opposed relation, an angular extension rigid with one jaw of saidpair extending past the other jaw of said pair, a screw extendingrotatably through the said end portion of said one jaw and threadedlyextending through the end portion of said other jaw for movement of saidother jaw toward said one jaw upon rotation of said screw, guide meansrespectively on said end portions connecting them against rotation ofsaid portions relative to but for movement of said portions toward andaway from each other upon rotation of said screw in one direction or theother, a lateral projection on the end of said extension that is remotefrom said end portion on said one jaw and one end of said screw beingrotatable in said projections, a holder carried by said one jaw butseparable therefrom, and means including said one end of said screw forreleasably holding said holder to said one jaw, said last mentionedmeans further including a pin on said holder in engagement with said endportion of said one jaw.

2. A utility clamp comprising; a pair of jaws having clamping portionsprovided with opposed clamping surfaces and end portions at one of thecorresponding ends of said clamping portions integral with the latterand in opposed relation, an angular extension rigid with one jaw of saidpair extending past the other jaw of said pair, a screw extendingrotatably through the said end portion of said one jaw and threadedlyextending through the end portion of said other jaw for movement of saidother jaw toward said one jaw upon rotation of said screw, a holdercarried bysaid one jaw but separable therefrom, and means including saidscrew for releasably securing said holder to said one jaw, said holderbeing alongside said extension, spaced ribs on said extension and saidend portion of said other jaw extending slidably between said ribs.

3. A utility clamp comprising; an upper jaw and a lower jaw respectivelyhaving end portions disposed one above the other, an angular extensionrigid with the end portion on said upper jaw extending downwardly pastthe end portion on the lower jaw, a projection on the lower end of saidextension extending below said last mentioned end portion, a holderadjacent to said extension extending vertically alongside the latter andhaving a part at its lower end extending below said projection, said endportions and said projection and said part being formed with verticallyaligned openings, a screw extending through said openings, the openingsin the end portion on said upper jaw and in said projection and saidpart being unthreaded for free rotation and axial movement of said screwtherein and threads on the end portion that is on said lower jaw inthreaded engagement with the threads on said screw, and cooperatingmeans respectively rigid with said upper jaw adjacent to its end portionand on the upper end of said holder releasably securing said upper endto said upper jaw.

4. A utility clamp comprising; an upper jaw and a lower jaw respectivelyhaving end portions disposed one above the other, an angular extensionrigid with the end portion on said upper jaw extending downwardly pastthe end portion on the lower jaw, a projection on the lower end of saidextension extending below said last mentioned end portion, a holderadjacent to said extension extending vertically alongside the latter andhaving a part at its lower end extending below said projection, said endportions and said projection and said part being formed with verticallyaligned openings, a screw extending through said openings, the openingsin the end portion on said upper jaw and in said projection and saidpart being unthreaded for free rotation and axial movement of said screwtherein and threads on the end portion that is on said lower jaw inthreaded engagement with the threads on said screw, and cooperatingmeans respectively rigid with said upper jaw adjacent to its end portionand on the upper end of said holder releasably securing said upper endto said upper jaw, and a lateral extension on said holder at its upperend projecting away from said upper jaw for carrying a load.

5. A utility clamp comprising; an upper jaw and a lower jaw respectivelyhaving end portions disposed one above the other, an angular extensionrigid with the end portion on said upper jaw extending downwardly pastthe end portion on the lower jaw, a projection on the lower end of saidextension extending below said last mentioned end portion, a holderadjacent to said extension extending vertically alongside the latter andhaving a part at its lower end extending below said projection, said endportions and said projection and said part being formed with verticallyaligned openings, a screw extending through said openings, the openingsin the end portion on said upper jaw and in said projection and saidpart being unthreaded for free rotation and axial movement of said screwtherein and threads on the end portion that is on said lower jaw inthreaded engagement with the threads on said screw, and cooperatingmeans respectively rigid with said upper jaw adjacent to its end portionand on the upper end of said holder releasably securing said upper endto said upper jaw, said means comprising a lateral extending element onsaid holder and a projection on the end portion that is on said upperjaw, said last mentioned projection having an upwardly opening recess inwhich said element is positioned for upward movement out of said recesswhen the lower end of said screw is out of the opening in said part.

6. A utility clamp comprising; an upper jaw and a lower jaw respectivelyhaving end portions disposed one above the other, an angular extensionrigid with the end portion on said upper jaw extending downwardly pastthe end portion on the lower jaw, a projection on the lower end of saidextension extending below said last mentioned end portion, a holderadjacent to said extension extending vertically alongside the latter andhaving a part at its lower end extending below said projection, said endportions and said projection and said part being formed with verticallyaligned openings, a screw extending through said openings, the openingsin the end portion on said upper jaw and in said projection and saidpart being unthreaded for free rotation and axial movement of said screwtherein and threads on the end portion that is on said lower jaw inthreaded engagement with the threads on said screw, and cooperatingmeans respectively rigid with said upper jaw adjacent to its end portionand on the upper end of said holder releasably securing said upper endto said upper jaw, a pair of horizontally spaced guide pieces integralwith and extending between said projection and said upper jaw betweenwhich the end portion on said lower jaw is vertically movable.

7. A utility clamp comprising; an upper jaw and a lower jaw respectivelyhaving end portions disposed one above the other, an angular extensionrigid with the end portion on said upper jaw extending downwardly pastthe end portion on the lower jaw, a projection on the lower end of saidextension extending below said last mentioned end portion, a holderadjacent to said extension extending vertically alongside the latter andhaving a part at its lower end extending below said projection, said endportions and said projection and said part being formed with verticallyaligned openings, a screw extending through said openings, the openingsin the end portion on said upper jaw in said projection and said partbeing unthreaded for free rotation and axial movement of said screwtherein and threads on the end portion that is on said lower jaw inthreaded engagement with the threads on said screw, and cooperatingmeans respectively rigid with said upper jaw adjacent to its end portionand on the upper end of said holder releasably securing said upper endto said upper jaw, the end portion on said upper jaw being otfsetdownwardly relative to the plane of said upper jaw, and said screwhaving a head disposed above the end portion of said upper jaw and belowthe level of the upper surface of said upper jaw.

8. A utility clamp comprising; an upper jaw and a lower jaw respectivelyhaving end portions disposed one above the other, an angular extensionrigid with the end portion on said upper jaw extending downwardly pastthe end portion on the lower jaw, a projection on the lower end of saidextension extending below said last mentioned end portion, a holderadjacent to said extension extending vertically alongside the latter andhaving a part at its lower end extending below said projection, said endportions and said projection and said part being formed with verticallyaligned openings, a screw extending through said openings, the openingsin the end portion on said upper jaw and in said projection and saidpart being interthreaded for free rotation and axial movement of saidscrew therein and threads on the end portion that is on said lower jawin threaded engagement with the threads on said screw, and cooperatingmeans respectively rigid with said upper jaw adjacent to its end portionand on the upper end of said holder releasably securing said upper endto said upper jaw, and a lateral extension on said holder at its upperend projecting away from said upper jaw for carrying a load, saidlateral extension on said holder being substantially annular, an ashtray removably supported in said extension having a screen spaced abovethe bottom of said tray for supporting the burning end of a cigarettethereon.

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